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Plants of Japan

JP · 36.20°, 138.25°

We catalogue 50 plants documented in Japan 0 native and 50 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 19 have medicinal uses.

II

Edible for food + foraging

50

Plants with edible parts documented in Japan. Always identify positively before harvest.

Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthaceaeedible
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
edible
Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet
Echinochloa crus-galli
Poaceaeedible
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Bridewort
Bridewort
Spiraea salicifolia
Rosaceaeedible
Brilliant campion
Brilliant campion
Lychnis fulgens
Caryophyllaceaeedible
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta cataria
ediblemedicinal
Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodiaceaeedible
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Dendranthema x grandiflorum
edible
Clasping pepperweed
Clasping pepperweed
Lepidium perfoliatum
Brassicaceaeedible
Common Pepperweed
Common Pepperweed
Lepidium densiflorum
Brassicaceaeedible
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Cress
Cress
Lepidium sativum
edible
Crowberry
Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum
edible
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Giant Dogwood
Giant Dogwood
Cornus controversa
Cornaceaeedible
Great Burnet
Great Burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
Rosaceaeedible
Greek Mustard
Greek Mustard
Hirschfeldia incana
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Hoary Cress
Hoary Cress
Cardaria draba
Brassicaceaeedible
Honesty
Honesty
Lunaria annua
Brassicaceaeedible
Hybrid cattail
Typha glauca
Cyperaceaeedible
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Japanese false bindweed
Japanese false bindweed
Calystegia hederacea
edible
Kaido Crab Apple
Kaido Crab Apple
Malus x micromalus
Rosaceaeedible
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
London Rocket
London Rocket
Sisymbrium irio
Brassicaceaeedible
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Menzies' burnet
Menzies' burnet
Sanguisorba menziesii
edible
Moonflower
Moonflower
Ipomoea alba
edible
Nandina
Nandina
Nandina domestica
edible
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
edible
Pepperwort
Pepperwort
Lepidium campestre
Brassicaceaeedible
Persian Silk Tree
Persian Silk Tree
Albizia julibrissin
edible
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpaceaeedible
Polygonatum humile
Polygonatum humile
Polygonatum humile
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Polygonatum involucratum
Polygonatum involucratum
Polygonatum involucratum
ediblemedicinal
Prunus gymnodonta
Prunus gymnodonta
Prunus gymnodonta
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Pumila Spirea
Pumila Spirea
Astilbe chinensis
Saxifragaceaeedible
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

19

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta cataria
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Greek Mustard
Greek Mustard
Hirschfeldia incana
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Polygonatum humile
Polygonatum humile
Polygonatum humile
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Polygonatum involucratum
Polygonatum involucratum
Polygonatum involucratum
ediblemedicinal
Prunus gymnodonta
Prunus gymnodonta
Prunus gymnodonta
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

50

Non-native species established in Japan. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.

Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthaceaeedible
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
edible
Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet
Echinochloa crus-galli
Poaceaeedible
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Bridewort
Bridewort
Spiraea salicifolia
Rosaceaeedible
Brilliant campion
Brilliant campion
Lychnis fulgens
Caryophyllaceaeedible
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta cataria
ediblemedicinal
Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodiaceaeedible
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Dendranthema x grandiflorum
edible
Clasping pepperweed
Clasping pepperweed
Lepidium perfoliatum
Brassicaceaeedible
Common Pepperweed
Common Pepperweed
Lepidium densiflorum
Brassicaceaeedible
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Cress
Cress
Lepidium sativum
edible
Crowberry
Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum
edible
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Giant Dogwood
Giant Dogwood
Cornus controversa
Cornaceaeedible
Great Burnet
Great Burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
Rosaceaeedible
Greek Mustard
Greek Mustard
Hirschfeldia incana
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Hoary Cress
Hoary Cress
Cardaria draba
Brassicaceaeedible
Honesty
Honesty
Lunaria annua
Brassicaceaeedible
Hybrid cattail
Typha glauca
Cyperaceaeedible
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Japanese false bindweed
Japanese false bindweed
Calystegia hederacea
edible
Kaido Crab Apple
Kaido Crab Apple
Malus x micromalus
Rosaceaeedible
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
London Rocket
London Rocket
Sisymbrium irio
Brassicaceaeedible
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Menzies' burnet
Menzies' burnet
Sanguisorba menziesii
edible
Moonflower
Moonflower
Ipomoea alba
edible
Nandina
Nandina
Nandina domestica
edible
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
edible
Pepperwort
Pepperwort
Lepidium campestre
Brassicaceaeedible
Persian Silk Tree
Persian Silk Tree
Albizia julibrissin
edible
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpaceaeedible
Polygonatum humile
Polygonatum humile
Polygonatum humile
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Polygonatum involucratum
Polygonatum involucratum
Polygonatum involucratum
ediblemedicinal
Prunus gymnodonta
Prunus gymnodonta
Prunus gymnodonta
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Pumila Spirea
Pumila Spirea
Astilbe chinensis
Saxifragaceaeedible
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Japan?

50 speciess — 0 native and 50 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 19 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Japan?

Common edible species include Amaranthus polystachyus, Amaranthus tenuifolius, Anthriscus cerefolium, Asiatic tearthumb, Barnyard Millet. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Japan?

19 medicinal plants catalogued for Japan, including Asiatic tearthumb, Black Mustard, Carex nubigena, Catmint, Chinese Artichoke.

How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?

Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.

VI

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AE
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AF
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AM
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AZ
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BD
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